Scientists warn E.Coli could rival MRSA

Scientists have warned that an outbreak of a drug-resistant E.Coli bug could become as widespread and as serious as MRSA.

Scientists have warned that an outbreak of a drug-resistant E.Coli bug could become as widespread and as serious as MRSA.

E.Coli, a common cause of infection, has grown more resistant to antibiotics and experts say the level of concern is rising as more healthy patients who have not been hospitalized contract the bug.

Measures to prevent the spread of the bug could include advising doctors to restrict the amount of prescriptions they issue for coughs and colds, allowing for such ailments to clear-up naturally over time.

The current worries about drug-resistant E.Coli were sparked by an article in the medical journal, The Lancet Infectious Diseases by Dr Johann Pitout of the University of Canada.

Eager to allay peopleís fears, the NHS said: ìAt present, infections from virulent forms of E.Coli in the community are rare and the few cases reported by he article occurred predominantly in other areas of Europe and South America.î